Effect of salicylate on potassium currents in inner hair cells isolated from guinea-pig cochlea

Abstract: Although salicylate is one of the most widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it causes moderate hearing loss and tinnitus at high-dose levels. In the present study, salicylate effects on the K currents in inner hair cells were examined. Salicylate reversibly reduced the outward K currents (I K,f), but did not affect the inward current (I K,n). Salicylate blocked the outward K currents in a concentration-dependent manner according to Hill equation with a half-blocking concentration of 1.66mM, and the Hill coefficient of 1.86. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]